Improved animal-trap



THOMAS SLLIMAN, OF THREE RIVERS, `lVIICI-IIC.

` Letters Patent No. 89,352, dated April 27, 1869.

IMPROVED .ANIMAL-TRAP.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of thsame.

top, and a ring attached to the lever, and surrounding the' bait,whereby the trap is sprung by the weight of the' animal upon the lever,as hereinafter described.

econd, in the combination with the turning top 0f a trap, andvertically-moving levers, arranged one on each side of lthe topJ 'ofstops, released by slides, attached to the levers, and devices, toprevent the top fronr turning until the ,stops are released, ashereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings, which make part of this specification-Figure l represents a plan view, partly in section at 'the line' y y ofiig. 2, of a trap embodying my improvements. v

Figure ,2, a vertical section of the same, at the line n: x of iig. l;and,

Figure 3, a view in elevation of the devices for setting and springingthe trap.

A represents a box, which is provided with atop, B, turning on pivotsl), and having on its upper and under sides a bait-receptacle c, eachsurrounded by a ring, c', forming the ends of levers C, which arefulcrumed upon the top at D, near its edge.

The short arms of the levers move vertically, in slots, in a metal stripll, fixed to the top at its edge, and projecting above and below it.

One end of this strip tl rests (when the trap is set) between th'e endsof metal strips E, secured at their .opposite ends upon the projectionF.

These arms E, are heid down by springs e, or,l if preferred, they may beof spring metal, and the springs e dispensed with.

Upon the stops :l are slides f, with rounded tops, moved by the leversO, to press up the spring-strips E, and leave the top free to turn. Whenthe top turns,

the stops ll, and slides f, turn freely in the recess j in, the face ofthe projection F, which is secured upon thev box just outside of the toAn opening, G', in the side of the box A, near its bottom, leads into apassage G, terminating in a deachable box, provided with a grating g, atits end, and

a removable cover H, provided with pins, upon which bait may be securedwhen it is desired to use this box alone for a trap.

A bottom, I, to which is secured, at one end, aweight "l, is pivoted, soas to tilt when an animal treads upon the forward partof the pivotedboard J.

This board J carries a catch, or stop, K, to hold up the bottom I.

The operation is as follows:

Bait is tied in the caps, and the trap set, as shown in the drawings.The animal gets upon the top, and is prevented from standing directly intheline of the pivots by the ledges L.

In attempting to secure the bait, the animals feet rest upon the ringc', depressing it, and elevating theslidc f, leaving the top free t0turn, which it does instantly, throwing the animal backwards into thebox.

As the opposite side of the top comes upward, the other end of thestrip, or stop, el, passes beneath one of the spring-strips E, but isstopped by the other strip, and the trap'is thus automatically set.

The animal, after being dropped into the box, passes along the passageG, into the second trap, the bottom of which is prevented from tippingat the forward end i by the lever f, and is also prevented from tipping,prematurely, at the opposite end by the catch K.

When the animal treads upon the forward end of the lever-board J, thebottom I is left free to tilt by the backward and upward movement of thecatch K. The tilting of the bottom closes the entrance from the passageG, and the board J prevents the animal from' advancing. The animal isdropped into water, or may be secured alive.

The weight i returns the bottom to its vformer position.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The combination, with the turning top B of the bait-receptacle c, andthe lever C surrounding the bait, and fulerumed on the top,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination, with the self-setting turning top, andvertically-moving levers, of the stops (l, the slides, and thespring-strips, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

n THOMAS SILLIMAN. Witnesses:

` E. H. LoTHRoP,

E, A. EGNY.

